August 30-September 5, 2013: This week in Memphis history

2008: The Levitt Shell in Overton Park opened its inaugural concert season with Amy LaVere and Justin Townes Earle following a $1.3 million renovation that improved the sound system and took out the shell’s benches in favor of an open green area.

1993: Local and state leaders broke ground at Memphis International Airport for a new $177.5 million runway and a $36 million FedEx Aircraft Maintenance Facility.

1974: ZZ Top at the Liberty Bowl capped what had been a busy summer at the stadium, then known as Memorial Stadium. In July, Eric Clapton had played the stadium with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Foghat opening.

1973: At a forum on “no fault” divorce legislation pending in Nashville, Shelby County Divorce Proctor Poston Cox argued no fault divorce would make divorce too easy and lead to the breakup of the traditional American family. But attorney Joe Sasser of Legal Services Association countered existing divorce laws created a “severe hardship” of families by requiring a listing of causes.

1943: On the front page of The Daily News, new gas rationing coupons were being issued to take effect with the first of September. The new coupons reflected smaller amount of gasoline for each coupon as part of the war effort. “Gas station attendants are not allowed to honor the old coupons after Sept. 1, so be sure to make the change and save embarrassment and perhaps, bad feeling, all around,” the notice read.